Replacing my Nikon lenses...suggestions?

mooseontheloose · Apr 4, 2019

Although my Nikon FE is not my main shooter, it stills sees a lot of action and I've come to the realization that the cheap lenses I bought 15-20 years ago are not aging well. What I thought were cleaning marks on one of my lenses was separation. Others have other issues. So I'm thinking I might do a full replacement for my main users (currently 28mm, 50mm, and 105mm). I'm not tied to those focal lengths, I'd consider others (24mm, 55mm, 85mm, etc). I have a 20mm lens and a tele-zoom lens (70-200) that I use occasionally but neither need replacing. I'm more interested in the older manual lenses (Ai-S) but would consider AF lenses as well as I do have an F100 floating around somewhere too. The 105mm f/2.5 AiS is one I've been considering for a while, but I'm open to other suggestions.

So this question is for the Nikon diehards who have shot with a multitude of lenses - if you were starting from scratch, which 3-lens combo would you suggest, and explanations as to why you like one over the other would be useful (like 50mm 1.2 vs 1.4, or 35mm vs 50mm). I'm trying to keep an open mind about things and not necessarily continue with what I've previously shot with. I want to stick with the three-lens combo (wide, normal, slight tele) since that's what I mostly use when I travel.

jimjm · Apr 5, 2019

For me, the 28/2.8 AIS and the 105/2.5 AIS are indispensable and see a lot of use. The 28 is very sharp and with CRC is my standard walk-around lens for nature, hiking, etc. It's much better that the older AI version. 35mm is almost a "normal" lens for me, so 28mm fits that sweet spot without the distortion that you can get with wider lenses. Shot below was taken with this lens.
There are reasons the 105 is a classic, but the AIS version is also sharp, which may or may not be your taste for shooting portraits. I prefer the older 105/2.5 Nikkor-P (converted to AI) for portraits, as it's the older Sonnar design and not as sharp up to about f:5.6, but still a killer lens.
The older 85/1.8 pre-AI is also great, if you don't need the reach of the 105. I've had all of my pre-AI lenses converted to AI, so I can use them on all my bodies, from Nikon F to D90.
I often carry a fast 50 for low-light situations. The 50/1.2 was good, but a bit bigger and heavier than the 50/1.4 (especially on a small body like an FE/FM), so I sold the faster lens. The 1.2 is also about twice the cost of the 1.4, for not much more speed. That being said, the 50/1.8 and older 50/2 are just about optically perfect and cheap as chips, if you don't need a faster 50.
Best Nikon lens I've ever used was the 180/2.8 AF ED-IF, if you ever have need of something in this focal length. Got some incredible results for stage/concert photos on film and digital, although not the fastest AF if you're shooting action.

Nikon F3, 28/2.8 AIS

awty · Apr 5, 2019

Get them all, they are fun to collect. I can never decide and often take about six with me.
If I were to whittle down to 3 it would be 24mm, 35mm and 85mm, because they are light and practical and cover the basics. For a tele, the 135 is brilliant.

Practically I prefer the late model auto focus cameras with the D lenses. 50mm f1.8 d is a bargain lens, some of the d zooms are very sharp and usable.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 5, 2019

If I had to choose a 3-lens outfit, it would be 28, 50, 105.

mooseontheloose · Apr 5, 2019

jimjm said:
For me, the 28/2.8 AIS and the 105/2.5 AIS are indispensable and see a lot of use. The 28 is very sharp and with CRC is my standard walk-around lens for nature, hiking, etc. It's much better that the older AI version. 35mm is almost a "normal" lens for me, so 28mm fits that sweet spot without the distortion that you can get with wider lenses. Shot below was taken with this lens.
There are reasons the 105 is a classic, but the AIS version is also sharp, which may or may not be your taste for shooting portraits. I prefer the older 105/2.5 Nikkor-P (converted to AI) for portraits, as it's the older Sonnar design and not as sharp up to about f:5.6, but still a killer lens.
The older 85/1.8 pre-AI is also great, if you don't need the reach of the 105. I've had all of my pre-AI lenses converted to AI, so I can use them on all my bodies, from Nikon F to D90.
I often carry a fast 50 for low-light situations. The 50/1.2 was good, but a bit bigger and heavier than the 50/1.4 (especially on a small body like an FE/FM), so I sold the faster lens. The 1.2 is also about twice the cost of the 1.4, for not much more speed. That being said, the 50/1.8 and older 50/2 are just about optically perfect and cheap as chips, if you don't need a faster 50.
Best Nikon lens I've ever used was the 180/2.8 AF ED-IF, if you ever have need of something in this focal length. Got some incredible results for stage/concert photos on film and digital, although not the fastest AF if you're shooting action.

Nikon F3, 28/2.8 AIS
View attachment 220814

Thanks jimjm, that's really useful! Actually, you mentioning the 180mm reminds of me of the time many years ago when I lusted after it myself, but couldn't afford at the time (same with the 105/2.5 and the 85mm lenses). I've been shooting with the 50/1.8 for a while, actually on my second replacement, but have considered the 1.4 many times and may go for that this time around, if I don't go for the 35mm instead. Or maybe I should just get both. I always bring the 28 and 50 with me no matter what, but sometimes it would be nice to just have one lens (35mm) when I don't want to carry a camera bag (no matter how small).

Pentode · Apr 5, 2019

I usually prefer a 24 to a 28 but the 28/2.8 AI-s is a truly outstanding lens. My favorite 28 by far.

Both the older, pre AI 50/2 and 50/1.4 are beautiful. I haven’t used more modern Nikkor 50s so I can’t compare them to those in terms of performance but they perform very well for me.

The 105/2.5 (mine is the older P) is really gorgeous. I believe people when they say it’s not as sharp as the AI version but it’s still pretty damn sharp. I love mine. Along with the 50/1.4 it’s my favorite Nikkor lens.

Those would be my three, but I feel the 35/2.8 AI-s deserves a shout-out, too. If I had to choose one focal length....

TheTrailTog · Apr 5, 2019

The question I would ask is do you find anything lacking (in terms of focal length) with your current trio of 28mm, 50mm, and 105mm? If not that is a very well rounded trio.

For me personally, it depends on what I'm shooting that day. If I'm going out hiking or someplace where my focus is primarily on my surroundings, then I will carry a 24/35 combo. If my focus will be on people I'm with, I will carry a 28/50 combo. I never shoot longer than 50mm. I had an 85mm f/1.8, which was a beautiful lens, but I sold it because it was collecting dust. I currently have a 105mm f/2.5 and a 80-200mm f/4.5. Both are beautiful lenses, but alas, they are just collecting dust.

Over the years I've owned maybe 3 dozen Nikon MF lenses of all focal lengths and I found all were plenty capable. Once you decide which focal lengths will best fit your needs, the questions then become: What compatibility do you want/need? How much lens speed do you want vs. how much weight do you want to carry? And perhaps most important, what is your budget?

FWIW, I currently own 20mm f/4, 24mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2, 50mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4, 105mm f/2.5, 28-45mm f/4.5, and 80-200mm f/4.5. All are K-Type non-Ai, which had far more to do with collecting than the optics being superior to any of the other versions.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 5, 2019

mooseontheloose said:
Although my Nikon FE is not my main shooter, it stills sees a lot of action and I've come to the realization that the cheap lenses I bought 15-20 years ago are not aging well. What I thought were cleaning marks on one of my lenses was separation. Others have other issues. So I'm thinking I might do a full replacement for my main users (currently 28mm, 50mm, and 105mm). I'm not tied to those focal lengths, I'd consider others (24mm, 55mm, 85mm, etc). I have a 20mm lens and a tele-zoom lens (70-200) that I use occasionally but neither need replacing. I'm more interested in the older manual lenses (Ai-S) but would consider AF lenses as well as I do have an F100 floating around somewhere too. The 105mm f/2.5 AiS is one I've been considering for a while, but I'm open to other suggestions.

So this question is for the Nikon diehards who have shot with a multitude of lenses - if you were starting from scratch, which 3-lens combo would you suggest, and explanations as to why you like one over the other would be useful (like 50mm 1.2 vs 1.4, or 35mm vs 50mm). I'm trying to keep an open mind about things and not necessarily continue with what I've previously shot with. I want to stick with the three-lens combo (wide, normal, slight tele) since that's what I mostly use when I travel.

In my opinion all Nikon AI and even some pre AI LENSES ARE TOP PERFORMERS available at bargain prives at the momrnt. I bought a few pre AI lenses and had them AI-ed by Mr. White in Michigan(very reasonable and very good). If you can livr without AF, that's the way to go.

barzune · Apr 5, 2019

My personal car-kit is made up of an F2, an F3, and my holy trinity of 24, 55 Micro and 105, all pre-AI.

Dan

narsuitus · Apr 5, 2019

mooseontheloose said:
...if you were starting from scratch, which 3-lens combo would you suggest...

mooseontheloose said:
I want to stick with the three-lens combo (wide, normal, slight tele) since that's what I mostly use when I travel.

Here is my three-lens combo list:

14, 28, 85

24, 35, 85

24, 35, 105

24, 50, 105

24, 50 Series E, 100 Series E (expendable kit)

24, 50, 105 macro (favorite landscape kit)

24, 50, 135

24, 50, 180

24, 55 macro, 105 macro (macro kit)

28, 50, 105 (my favorite for theatre)

28, 50, 135 (my original favorite)

28 with reverse ring, 55 macro, 105 macro (macro kit)

28, 85, 135

35, 50, 85

35, 50, 105

35, 85, 180 (my current favorite)

The Nikon lenses in my inventory include:

14mm f/2.8 AF-D

24mm f/2 AIS

28mm f/2.8 AIS and 28mm f/3.5 pre-AIS

35mm f/1.4 AI and 35mm f/2 AI converted

50mm f/1.4 AF-D and 50mm f/1.8 Series E

55mm f/3.5 AI converted macro

85mm f/1.4 AF-D and 85mm f/1.8 AI converted

100mm f/2.8 Series E

105mm f/2.8 AIS macro

105mm f/2.5 AIS

135mm f/2 AIS and 135mm f/3.5 AIS

180mm f/2.8 AI converted

All of the prime lenses in my inventory have aperture rings.

I do not like Nikon G lenses with no aperture rings.

I use a wide/normal/telephoto three-lens combo on my medium format film camera.

However, for my 35mm film cameras, I prefer a slightly wide/slightly telephoto/telephoto three lens combo.

Favorite 3-lens combo by Narsuitus, on Flickr

jerrybro · Apr 5, 2019

The nice thing about shooting Nikon 35mm is that there are tons of very good lenses out there at very reasonable prices. As long as you don't want to have some of the more rare or exotic offerings, a large collection can be acquired at a reasonable price. I have 28mm 2.8AIS, a couple 50mm 1.8 AIs, 50mm 1.4 non-ai, 55 2.8 micro, 105 2.5 ais and a 180 2.8 ED. All are excellent. I would like a 35mm 2.0 to round everything out and I'm glad someone else bought the 35mm 1.4 that was for sale (the temptation was growing).

What 3 lenses I would recommend would depend on what you want to shoot with the camera. The lens I use the most is the 55mm 2.8 micro. Everyone should have one of those.

MattKing · Apr 5, 2019

I am a 24, 35, 85 fan.

bdial · Apr 5, 2019

For quite a long time my three lens kit was a 20/3.5, 50/1.4 and the 105. I later augmented that with a 35-105 zoom. These days I'd probably consider an 85/1.4 in place of the 105, since the 105 is often either too long or too short for my eyes.

tomkatf · Apr 5, 2019

My favorite minimum lens selection for general shooting back in the day was: 20/4, 28/2 (my favorite lens), 50/1.4 and 80-200/4.5... all Nikkors.

jim10219 · Apr 6, 2019

As for 50's, I'd recommend the 50/2 ai or 50/1.2. The 50/2 is extremely sharp and has gorgeous bokeh. The 50/1.2 is a flagship lens (though I've never tried one). The 50/1.8's and 50/1.4's I've tried didn't impress me. They weren't as sharp as the 50/2 and the bokeh is distracting. Then again, I kind of compare all 50's to my Pentax K 50/1.4, and that lens has kind of ruined me on what a 50 can be.

mshchem · Apr 6, 2019

85mm, I have a 85 1.4 AF-D but the f1.8 manual focus lenses are outstanding. Shoot at f2.8 or f4. Beautiful. The older Nikon prime lenses are usually great. I shoot with AF-D and Ai lenses with a D850 and am astonished at the resolution.

One manual focus lens I would love to own is a nikkor 35mm 1.4 amazing.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 6, 2019

narsuitus said:
Here is my three-lens combo list:

14, 28, 85

24, 35, 85

24, 35, 105

24, 50, 105

24, 50 Series E, 100 Series E (expendable kit)

24, 50, 105 macro (favorite landscape kit)

24, 50, 135

24, 50, 180

24, 55 macro, 105 macro (macro kit)

28, 50, 105 (my favorite for theatre)

28, 50, 135 (my original favorite)

28 with reverse ring, 55 macro, 105 macro (macro kit)

28, 85, 135

35, 50, 85

35, 50, 105

35, 85, 180 (my current favorite)

The Nikon lenses in my inventory include:

14mm f/2.8 AF-D

24mm f/2 AIS

28mm f/2.8 AIS and 28mm f/3.5 pre-AIS

35mm f/1.4 AI and 35mm f/2 AI converted

50mm f/1.4 AF-D and 50mm f/1.8 Series E

55mm f/3.5 AI converted macro

85mm f/1.4 AF-D and 85mm f/1.8 AI converted

100mm f/2.8 Series E

105mm f/2.8 AIS macro

105mm f/2.5 AIS

135mm f/2 AIS and 135mm f/3.5 AIS

180mm f/2.8 AI converted

All of the prime lenses in my inventory have aperture rings.

I do not like Nikon G lenses with no aperture rings.

I use a wide/normal/telephoto three-lens combo on my medium format film camera.

However, for my 35mm film cameras, I prefer a slightly wide/slightly telephoto/telephoto three lens combo.

Favorite 3-lens combo by Narsuitus, on Flickr

I like the 24,50,85 combo the best.

macfred · Apr 6, 2019

On my last trips with Nikon gear I carried an Ai Zoom Nikkor 25-50mm f/4 and an old -non-Ai- Nikkor P-Auto 105mm f/2.5 - unregreted.
The 25-50mm is a little bit on the heavy side but an often underrated lens with remarkable IQ. The 105mm is -IMO- one of the best Nikon lenses ever.

narsuitus · Apr 6, 2019

jim10219 said:
Then again, I kind of compare all 50's to my Pentax K 50/1.4, and that lens has kind of ruined me on what a 50 can be.

I completely understand.

For decades, the excellent 8-element Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Takumar M42 screw-mount lens ruined me to other 50mm lenses.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 6, 2019

macfred said:
... Ai Zoom Nikkor 25-50mm f/4 ...
The 25-50mm is a little bit on the heavy side but an often underrated lens with remarkable IQ. ...

A nice lens. One of those came my way about a year or two ago and I foolishly didn't buy it because I had its equally nice looking predecessor, the 28-45/4.5 AI.

John Earley · Apr 8, 2019

28/2.8, 85/1.8 and 180/2.8 are my choice.

Chan Tran · Apr 8, 2019

Back in the old days (late 70's early 80's) I have the 28, 50 and 85 so I think I would go with the same now. I never have a 35 so perhaps I add that. For shorter I would go with a 20mm f/2.8. For longer I would go with a 135 f/2.8 and the 200 f/4.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 8, 2019

Xia_Ke said:
The question I would ask is do you find anything lacking (in terms of focal length) with your current trio of 28mm, 50mm, and 105mm? If not that is a very well rounded trio.

For me personally, it depends on what I'm shooting that day. If I'm going out hiking or someplace where my focus is primarily on my surroundings, then I will carry a 24/35 combo. If my focus will be on people I'm with, I will carry a 28/50 combo. I never shoot longer than 50mm. I had an 85mm f/1.8, which was a beautiful lens, but I sold it because it was collecting dust. I currently have a 105mm f/2.5 and a 80-200mm f/4.5. Both are beautiful lenses, but alas, they are just collecting dust.

Over the years I've owned maybe 3 dozen Nikon MF lenses of all focal lengths and I found all were plenty capable. Once you decide which focal lengths will best fit your needs, the questions then become: What compatibility do you want/need? How much lens speed do you want vs. how much weight do you want to carry? And perhaps most important, what is your budget?

FWIW, I currently own 20mm f/4, 24mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2, 50mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4, 105mm f/2.5, 28-45mm f/4.5, and 80-200mm f/4.5. All are K-Type non-Ai, which had far more to do with collecting than the optics being superior to any of the other versions.

talking about range of focal length: this trhread made me take out my 24-85 f/2.8-4D again and stopped down to f5.6-8, it is a brilliant performer!

Replacing my Nikon lenses...suggestions?

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